Almost $5,000 left behind in loose change at Sea-Tac airport

s10maniac said on January 15, 2012 at 10:12 AM

Knowing the government TSA has an employee at Seatac that makes $90,000 a year just to count the $5000 in change.

dhnrs said on January 15, 2012 at 7:57 AM

maybe TSA can use the money to go out and buy new clown outfits for themselves

hobnobber said on January 15, 2012 at 2:32 AM

I have to go throw up ! My first reaction. That money had better be going to someone else besides the U S government !

jade82674 said on January 14, 2012 at 10:55 PM

That was the first thing I thought of when I heard this story on the radio. Give the money to the homeless shelters.

Mytake said on January 14, 2012 at 9:25 PM

AA HAA!!! thats were I left that!

kdcurlytop said on January 14, 2012 at 4:40 PM

Why not donate the money to charity and help someone that needs it instead of putting it in TSA's general fund? I'm sure there is a food bank or shelter that would be very appreciative. Also, it's would be better PR for TSA than putting it in your general fund!

mcrain092 said on January 14, 2012 at 3:18 PM

@Annonymous - we understand that this is not "stolen" money per say because your right, people did leave this behind knowingly - BUT - the point people are trying to make is that they don't need to be keeping this excess $. Its just not the right thing to do. They should be donating this to anything but there own needs!

btvsrcks said on January 14, 2012 at 1:50 PM

The fact that they aren't donating it sickens me. It is NOT their money.

cat98003 said on January 14, 2012 at 12:18 PM

Don't bring change in y our pocket, leave it in purse, carry on bag, or just don't carry cash at all. Don't let TSA "profit off you"

SamSounder said on January 14, 2012 at 11:57 AM

That's an average of 1 cent per 10 passengers... considering how most of us won't go 2 steps out of our way to pick up a dime, it seems like a really low number. Good on the TSA for being that diligent about making sure we pick up stuff we'd just as soon walk away from.

kimbeam said on January 14, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Send to the loser Governor of this state.. she will figure a way to tax it and keep it

maltbymike said on January 14, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Give it to USO.

southlakeunion said on January 14, 2012 at 8:56 AM

HAHA into the general operating budget of the TSA.... what a waste!

chuckstr76 said on January 14, 2012 at 7:59 AM

Donate the money to the homeless shelters,

BomDia said on January 14, 2012 at 4:37 AM

The TSA is a waste of money to begin with. They are nothing more than a bunch of thieves pilfering through luggage and stealing from airline passengers as they pass through security check points. The $4,900 change found should be donated to any candidate that will help end the TSA.

Anonymous said on January 14, 2012 at 1:58 AM

You set money down and don't pick it back up, its your fault. No one should have to remind you to pick up your money that you set down 30 seconds ago. Stop blaming the TSA for "stealing" money that dumb people leave behind. When did people stop having to be responsible for their own stuff? It shouldnt be up to the TSA to remind you to take your own items, especially money.

intrepid1 said on January 14, 2012 at 12:14 AM

That's nothing. I worked at an amusement park for a SUMMER and they netted a few thousand dollars A DAY in lost change by visitors. Clean up and ride crews were under strict rules to collect it and turn it in during their shifts to shift supervisors who then turned it into a central office (which was located in, essentially, a bunker). Failure to do so (e.g., pocketing it) would get you fired. The interesting thing about this and the TSA is that this is NOT lost loose change falling out of pockets... but money in baskets left by passengers going through security check-points. Hey, doesn't the TSA make any effort to ensure that passengers are picking up everything they put in the baskets? If not, why the hell not????

conseula said on January 13, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Absolutely unbelievable that $5000 could be accumulated in change by going through security!! Guess I must plead ignorance...But why isn't this change returned to the passenger after going through security check? I'm sure those TSA employees pocket some of the money..I am also sure they don't get paid much of an hourly wage..Personally, from what I have read, the money should be going into TSA training..I mean when you strip search an 80 year old grandmother, it seems that more is needed in their training.. I do agree that the money should be donated to charities..

comiccon2010 said on January 13, 2012 at 9:47 PM

and how much made it to screeners pockets?

cntbelieveit2395 said on January 13, 2012 at 9:34 PM

Great! Now we can cut their budget by $409,085.56.

puyallup_leon078 said on January 13, 2012 at 6:11 PM

I was wondering why my pockets felt a little light

jen98greg said on January 13, 2012 at 5:17 PM

It should be donate to local food and homeless shelters in the area of the airport, why not put it back into the community, its not there money. Does the TSA really need to keep it, lets help out people in need with it. Divide it up and donate to several community agencies. But DO NOT KEEP IT

awol50 said on January 13, 2012 at 5:15 PM

But are we counting the other 90% that went into TSA people's pockets? Come on King 5, you know there are absolutely no controls on handling and accounting for this cash. At least you could bring up the topic of accounting controls (or lack thereof).

raesback said on January 13, 2012 at 5:11 PM

Why not give it back to people that need it. Food bank, clothes bank something. They already used your services and paid you to fly. There are a lot of us out of work and hungry and not getting any kind of assistance. I am sure it would not hurt your reputation either to be caring.

colesweetpea said on January 13, 2012 at 5:04 PM

The money should be given to Food Banks or a cherity.

gabriel1150 said on January 13, 2012 at 5:04 PM

Who is this general and what are they operating on?

aurabryt said on January 13, 2012 at 5:00 PM

thats bs it shouldn't go into their budget donate it to chairty :(

puzzled said on January 13, 2012 at 4:48 PM

Also makes me wonder how much of it wound up in the pockets of TSA employees.....

puzzled said on January 13, 2012 at 4:46 PM

I agree with mellybelly323, it should be going to charity!!

bekster4 said on January 13, 2012 at 4:43 PM

Thats the government for ya!!!!!!!!

mellybelly323 said on January 13, 2012 at 4:39 PM

They can't donate it to charity instead? Come on, guys....